Plaiting machine



E. SKEDDEN FLAITING MACHINE Oct. 22, 1935.

Filed July 15, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet l 2 w 4v w n 5 W W r W H 7 a Z 46 2a 6 a2 2 fl 6 A B FL 1| ..al/ a a m 6 4 6 7 4 I Oct. 22, 1935. E. SKEDDEN 2,018,387

PLAITING MACHINE Filed July 15, 1933 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR A BY W RNEY

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PLAITING MACHINE Edwin Skedden, National City, Calif. Application July 15, 1933, Serial No. 680,587

9 Claims.

My invention relates to plaiting machines, more particularly to machines adapted to form plaits in thin walled tubes of initially cylindrical form, and the objects of my invention are:

First, to provide a machine of this class which is particularly designed to taper an end of a paper cylinder to a frusto-conical form whereby the cylinder may be fitted over milk bottles or the like to form a protecting cover therefor;

Second, to provide a machine of this class which may be used in conjunction with other means to form a cup shaped member from a minimum amount of material; that is, to provide a machine which forms the sides of a tube so that one end may be readily closed to form a receptacle;

Third, to provide a machine of this class; whereby a series of plaits are formed longitudinally in a cylinder and are so arranged that they may be readily and quickly pressed to a flat condition;

Fourth, to provide a machine of this class which may be arranged to produce coverings or shells of different shape either with straight or curved sides; and

Fifth, to provide a machine of this class which is particularly simple of construction proportional to its functions, durable, efiicient in its action, rapid in operation and which will not readily deteriorate or get out of order.

With these and other objects in view as will appear hereinafter, my invention consists of certain novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts and portions as will be described in more detail hereinafter and particularly set forth in the appended claims; reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in

which Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the operating portions of my machine taken substantially through 22 of Fig. 2 with the core is partially completed;

tional view thereof Fig. 5 is a transverse seethrough 55 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6

is a diagrammatical view illustrating a means of obtaining the desired relative movement of the parts view of a modified of the machine; Fig. 'l is a fragmentary form of my plaiting machine whereby the walls of a cylinder are given a curved form, the several parts being shown in the position assumed at the beginning of the plaiting operation; Fig. 8 is a similar fragmentary sectional view with the parts in the positions as- 5 their respective plaiting channels; and Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional view thereof through ll l| of Fig. 10.

Similar characters of reference refer to sim- 15 ilar parts and portions throughout the several views of the drawings.

Base member I, arm members 2, hinge elements 3, tension means 4, plaiting fingers 5, guide ring 6, stop ring I, plaiting core 8, operating means 9, and operating mechanism Ill, cam arms ll, springs l2, cam rollers I3e, plaiting fingers l4, and plaiting core I5, constitute the principal parts and portions of my novel plaiting machine. 25

The stock upon which my machine is designed to operate is, before treatment in the form of a cylinder A as shown in Fig. 3. The cylinder may be with or without a seam Al and when used as a cover for milk bottles is preferably formed of 30 waxed paper or analogous material. My machine plaits the cylinder by pressing the same inwardly about a form of the desired shape then pressing the excess paper into folds or plaits by the operation of a plurality of fingers. 35

To accomplish the above purpose there is provided a base member I which is substantially cup shaped having a flat bottom portion la and a vertical annular wall lb. Mounted above the wall lb and extending upwardly and outwardly 40 therefrom are a plurality of substantially axially directed arm members 2. These are secured to the base member individually by a plurality of hinge elements 3 so that the upper ends of the several arm members 2 may shift radially or 45 substantially so. The hinge elements are arranged around the outer sides of the base member and the arm members 2. The lower ends of the arms 2 are provided with outwardly and downwardly extending lugs 2a which are provided with substantially radially directed apertures 2b which receive tension means 4. Each tension means comprises a rider member 4a adapted to bear against the outer side of the base member and reciprocate within the aperu .with a plaiting finger 5 which extends radially inwardly. Each finger terminates in a wedge shaped laterally directed and vertically. disposed tip portion 5a. The plaiting fingersrand the manner of their operation will be set out in more detail hereinafter. ,7 V l A guide ring 6 is supported above the table T and around the aperture TI therein. The guide ring E is provided with radiating slots 6a through which thearms extend and are guided'vertically to move radially outward and inward. I

Mounted above the several arm members in concentric relation therewith and adapted to move downwardly within them is a plaiting core 8. The plaiting core comprises a cylindrical upper portion,8a and a tapering lower portion 8b. The tapering portion is circular at its juncture with the cylindrical portion and becomes polygonal in form at its lower extremity as shown bestin Fig. 1. The tapering portion is provided with axially extending ridges 8c defining the corners of the polygonal lower extremity. The

. ridges are undercut forming substantially tangentially'directed channels 8d. The ridges and their channels are attenuated at the upper ex tremity of the tapered portion and increase in size towards the lower extremity thereof.

Each of the tip portions 5a of the plaiting fingers 5 are adapted to fit a channel 8d and fo1- low the channel as the fingers and the plaiting core are moved relatively away from each other. The radially inner ends, designated 5b, of the plaiting fingers are fiat horizontally so as to engage the fiattened faces of the tapered portion 812 as shown best inFig. 5 and form ironing surfaces the lower sides of which are rounded or relieved as indicated by 50. a V

A suitable operating .means 9 .is connected to the plaiting core 8. 7 This may take the form of a reciprocating member to which the core is attached as shown in Fig. 6. The base member I is connected with an operating mechanism so ar- 55 ranged that it may be moved up and down at will and thereby move the plaiting fingers radially the proper amount to follow theicore 8. Qperationofthe. machine is as follows:

A cylinder such as that shown in Fig. 3, is fitted over the core 8 so that it occupies the dotted line position shOWIl in Fig. 1, and is held there by the operator by a mechanical means as desired. The core is lowered into thespace between the several fingers while they are spread by the stop ring 'I.- The fingers are then also lowered so that the tension means move the fingers radially inwardly into engagement with the core 8 at the upper extremity of the tapered portion. The core may be further lowered.

8is then withdrawn while the plaiting fingers 5 This relative axial movement causes the fingers 5, to follow the several channels 8d, the fingers and channels being mounted in alinement. In doing so the walls of the cylinder A are pressed inwardly and caused tofold intothe channels 8d as shown best in Figs.4 and 5, thereby forming a plurality of axially extending plaits. The size of the channels 8d and the ridges 80 forming them increase just sufficiently to take up the extra material produced by reason of the decreasing diameter or. the core. It should be noted here that the sew-- eral plaits, designated A2 of the cylinder A form: acute angles with the normal surface thereof so that they may be readily pressed fiat. The relieved or rounded lower portions 50 of the pressing or ironing surfaces 5b guide and press the walls of the cylinder A against the core and thereby aid the tip portions 5a in plaiting the excess material and prevent undue strain on the cylinder A. Thus paper or other rather fragile material may be readily and quickly 15 formed.

It is possible with adaptions of the above described structure to curve the plaited portions of a cylindrical member, particularly if the paper or other material be capable of stretching slightly. Such an adaption is-illustrated in Figs. '7 to V ments 3 to the base member I with their lower ends in abutting relation with the upper end of the base member. The adjacent portions of the base member I and arms II are provided with registering sockets Ila and I c which receive springs I2 adapted to urge the upper extremities of the arms radially outwardly.

' The guide ringt in this structure is provided with cam rollers I3e which engage the outer sides of the arm members which are curved to form cam surfaces II b.

The plaiting fingers I 4 are carried at the upper extremities of the cam arms II and are similar in form to the fingers 5, having laterally directed plaiting tips Ida and extended pressing surfaces I4b, however the latter may be more rounded than in thefirst described structure because the angular movement of the fingers relajacent the cylindrical portion I5a and gradually increasing in size towards the lower end of the core. The tips Itaof the plaiting fingers I4 are adapted to follow these channels, the shape of the cam portions IIb being such that the plaiting fingers I4 are maintained in the proper relation with the core as the base is drawn downwardly as shown by comparison of Figs. 7 and 8 and 9. For. simplicity of illustration, the plaiting core I5 is shown as occupying a fixed position during the operating movementoi' the plaiting fingers, however, both may move as in the first described structure by operating them with a synchronized driving means, and altering the shape of the cam portions II b accordingly.

Operation of the modified structure insofar as their relative movements are concerned is identical to the first described structure.

After the cylinder A has been plaited as shown to conform to either of the cores illustrated or cores having other desirable shapes, it is removed 75 aoraeev and its smaller end is additionally formed in any suitable manner as disclosed in my co-pending application hereinbefore mentioned.

It should be noted here that the conventional manner of shaping similar articles consists in pressing a circular blank into a proper shaped mold guiding the sides into plaits which when the article becomes very deep the plaits become too clumsy and large, while with my machine the 'cylinder may be of any desired length. Also the conventional structure cannot form curved side walls which is possible with my structure. Still further, the plaits formed in the conventional manner must continue the full length of the article whereas, in my structure they may begin intermediate the ends of the cylinder. This is particularly desirable when forming covers adapted to completely encase the side walls of a milk bottle otherwise'the lower end of the cover would flare outward.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions and a certain modification thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the particularconstructions, combinations and arrangements illustrated, but desire to include in the scope of my invention the constructions, combinations and arrangements substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine for plaiting the walls of hollow cylindrical objects, a forming means having generally the desired finished shape of the object being treated and arranged to receive said object in its initial form, said means including a plurality of plait delineating channels, each undercut at one side, and a plurality of elements each forming to said channels and undercut portions arranged to urge the walls of the object being treated into said plait delineating channels and undercut portions.

2. In a machine for plaiting the walls of hollow cylindrical objects, a forming means having generally the desired finished shape of the object being treated and arranged to receive said object in its initial form, said means including a plurality of plait delineating channels, each undercut at one side, and a plait forming apparatus comprising a support, and a plurality of plaiting fingers each conforming to said channels and undercut portions adapted to move along the several plait delineating portions and progressively and simultaneously form plaits in the walls of the object being treated.

3. In a machine for plaiting the walls of hollow cylindrical objects, a forming means having generally the desired finished shape of the object being treated and arranged to receive said object in its initial form, a portion of said means having converging sides, and a plurality of ribs each having an undercut side extending along said converging portion, said ribs increasing in size as said portion converges whereby the periphery of said converging portion remains substantially constant, and a plurality of separate elements each conforming to said undercut side arranged to followthe several ridges and press the walls of the object being treated into conformity therewith.

4. In a machine for plaiting the walls of hollow cylindrical objects, forming means having generally the desired finished shape of the object being treated and arranged to receive said object in its initial form, a portion of said means having converging sides, and a plurality of ribs each having an undercut side extending along said converging portion, said ribs increasing in size as said portion converges whereby the periphery of said converging portion remains substantially constant, and a plurality of separate elements each conforming to said undercut side arranged to follow the several ridges and press the walls of the object being treated into conformity the-re- 1'0 with, said ridges occupying acute angular relations with the walls of the converging portion whereby the plaits formed thereby are in position for being subsequently pressed into fiat relation with the walls of the treated object. 15

5. In a machine for plaiting the walls of cylindrical bottle cover shells, a form-ing means having generally the desired finished shape of the bottle cover shell to be treated, said forming means varying in diameter, said plait forming 20 elements increasing in size as the size of the forming means decreases, and means arranged to follow said plait forming elements and urge the cover shell being treated into conformity therewith,said plait forming element being in the form 25 of ribs extending in angular relations with the radii of the forming means and defining with the body thereof a plurality of substantially tangentially directed channels each undercut at its deepest side.

6. In a machine for plaiting the walls of cylindrical cover shells a forming means having generally the desired finished shape of the cover shell to be treated, said forming means varying in diameter and having plait forming elements at 85 the portions thereof of less than its maximum diameter, and said plait forming elements increasing in size as the size of the forming means decreases, and a plait forming apparatus comprising a support and a plurality of plaiting fingers carried thereby and adapted to move in concert along the plait forming elements and simultaneously and progressively press the cover shell into conformity therewith, said plait forming element being in the form of ribs extending in 45 angular relation with the radii of the forming means and defining with the body thereof a plurality of substantially tangentially directed channels, said plaiting fingers having tip portions adapted to fit into the several channels, and 50 conform thereto.

7. In a machine for plaiting the walls of cylindrical cover shells, a forming means having generally the desired finished shape of the cover shell to be treated, said forming means varying 55 in diameter and having plait forming channels, each undercut at one side at the portions thereof of less than its maximum diameter, said plait forming channels increasing in size as the size of the forming means decreases, and a plait forming 0 apparatus comprising, a support, a plurality of arm members carried thereby adapted to extend along the sides of said forming means, plaiting fingers at the extremities of said arm member each conforming to said undercut side, means for 65 shifting said plaiting fingers inwardly and with respect to said forming means, and mechanism for causing relative longitudinal movement of said support and forming means whereby the plaiting fingers are caused to follow said plait forming 70 channels and urge the cover shell into conformity therewith.

8. In a machine of the class described, a forming member having tapering and curving sides, its larger end adapted to receive a cylinder to be plaited, said forming member including a, pinrality of plait delineating undercut channels and ridges extending longitudinally therewith and following the curvature thereof, a plurality of plaiting fingers coniorming to said channels, and means including cam and rider elements shaped and disposed to guide said plaiting fingers in conformity to said plait delineating means.

9. In a machine of the class described, a torming member having tapering and curving sides, its larger end adapted to receive a cylinder to be plaited, said forming member including a. plurality of plait delineatingrmeans extending longitudinally therewith and following the curvature portions adapted to fit said channels and press the cylinder therein to form plaits, mechanism for moving said plaiting fingers and forming member longitudinally with respect to each other, said mechanism including cam and rider elements associated with said plaiting fingers and ar- 10 ranged to cause said fingers to follow said plait delineating means.

' EDWIN SKEDDEN. 

